1 minute read
Tom & Mayo vie for chips attention
from SOUTH - August 2021
by Times Media
Best Foods, the maker of mayonnaise rumoured to be ‘the best’ has partnered with a French influencer, Sacha Smiles, to bring a fresh perspective to dipping chips – hot chips that is – and it’s not into tomato sauce!
French fries (or chips) are pretty well a staple in Aotearoa with reputedly some seven million weekly servings being dished up nationwide
Although its origin is somewhat vague, more-ish fries have by claimed by many countries from Britain to Spain and even the United States, but the real battle lies between France and Belgium.
It has been alleged they were born in the 1700s in Namur, francophone Belgium, and were first dubbed the ‘Francophone Fry’.
Then during the First World War when American soldiers were stationed in the Frenchspeaking region of Belgium, they discovered the potato and named the dish ‘French Fries’.
Others believe the true birthplace of French fries was in France as the ‘pomee Pont-Neuf’, a deep-fried potato sold in Paris by vendors in the late 1800s.
Whatever the truth, there is no doubt that French fries now have a strong following around the world including here.
But, now, the nation is told Kiwis haven’t been dipping chips the true French way thus missing out on an unforgettable taste experience. Best Foods wants to change that.
That French fry aficionado, Sacha says he has heard that people in New Zealand love French fries.
“However, I was surprised to discover they typically dip them in ketchup [tom sauce to us at home]. Over in France, we always use mayonnaise with our French fries. It’s the perfect pairing, every time.’’
Nabomita Bagchi, of Best Foods, says: “when we discovered that in France, mayonnaise is the condiment mostly paired with French fries, we wanted a true French influence that would both inspire and educate [Kiwis] to elevate their hot chips by using mayonnaise.”
To inspire Kiwis to indulge the ‘right way’, and to showcase the many ways hot chips can be enjoyed with mayo, Best Foods has teamed up with some of Aotearoa’s finest recipe creators to develop a range of delicious French fry dishes; check out two on the opposite page.
